Current Status Bill Number:3828 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970403 Primary Sponsor:Harrell All Sponsors:Harrell, R. Smith, Whatley, H. Brown, Limehouse, Altman, Boan, Wilkins, Campsen and Kirsh Drafted Document Number:pt\1101dw.97 Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Education Committee 04 SED Date of Last Amendment:19970430 Subject:High school graduates, Superior Academic Achievement diploma, scholarships; School districts, Students
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ Senate 19970501 Introduced, read first time, 04 SED referred to Committee House 19970501 Read third time, sent to Senate House 19970430 Amended, read second time House 19970430 Request for debate by Representative Robinson Loftis Inabinett Lloyd Harrell Hamilton Townsend Walker J. Brown Stuart Campsen House 19970424 Committee report: Favorable with 21 HEPW amendment House 19970403 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
AMENDED
April 30, 1997
H. 3828
Introduced by Reps. Harrell, R. Smith, Whatley, H. Brown, Limehouse, Altman, Boan, Wilkins, Campsen and Kirsh
S. Printed 4/30/97--H.
Read the first time April 3, 1997.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-39-101 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OF THIS STATE WHO MEET CERTAIN SPECIFIED CRITERIA SHALL RECEIVE A SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AND ALSO SHALL RECEIVE A FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND ANY STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-39-101. (A) For the purpose of recognizing and rewarding outstanding performance and academic achievement on the part of school students, each public or nonpublic high school graduate who meets the requirements of this section beginning with the 1997-98 school year must be awarded a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements (STAR) High School Diploma.
(B) In order to qualify for a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements High School Diploma a student, who has completed the college prep track, shall complete at least twenty-four units as prescribed by the State Board of Education including:
(1) four units of English or language arts;
(2) four units of mathematics;
(3) four units of science;
(4) four units of social science or history, one unit of which must be U.S. History;
(5) two units of foreign or classical languages;
(6) one unit of computer science beginning with school year 1999-2000, and until school year 1999-2000, one additional elective unit must be completed instead of a unit in computer science;
(7) one unit of the arts or music, provided that a third unit of foreign or classical language may be substituted for this arts or music requirement;
(8) one unit of physical education or health; and
(9) three elective units.
No course in which the student receives a pass-fail grade may be counted in the student's twenty-four units required by this subsection.
(C) In order to qualify for a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements High School Diploma a student, who has completed the tech prep track, shall complete at least twenty-four units as prescribed by the State Board of Education including:
(1) four units of English or language arts;
(2) four units of mathematics;
(3) three units of science;
(4) three units of social science or history, one unit of which must be U.S. History;
(5) two units of foreign or classical languages;
(6) one unit of computer science beginning with school year 1999-2000, and until school year 1999-2000, one additional elective unit must be completed instead of a unit in computer science;
(7) four units of occupational specialty courses;
(8) one unit of physical education or health; and
(9) two elective units.
(D) A student who receives a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements High School Diploma and attends a public or private South Carolina institution of higher learning or technical college whose main campus and headquarters are located in South Carolina shall receive a five hundred dollar scholarship from the State paid to the institution. The State Department of Education shall furnish the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program of the Commission on Higher Education with a list of those students each year who are awarded Superior Technology or Academic Requirements Diplomas. The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program shall then distribute the scholarship funds on behalf of such students at the appropriate institutions.
(E) Each district school board of trustees and the administrators of each nonpublic school are encouraged to make provisions, through appropriate and adequate course offerings in each high school or through cooperative arrangements with other schools, for students desiring to receive a Superior Academic Achievement High School Diploma.
(F) The State Board of Education is authorized to promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation and administration of this section. These regulations shall include specific course requirements and may also establish alternatives to any area of study or course of study specified herein, provided that the adopted curriculum framework demonstrates that the alternative authorized is equivalent or more advanced.
(G) In order to qualify for a Superior Technology or Academic Requirements Diploma, a student must maintain an aggregate numerical grade average of at least 90 for grades 9-12. No numerical grade average may include a pass-fail grade."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.